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refurb
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 02 Jan 2009, 21:58
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Guys I need your help!

Now that all my recommendations are complete, I'd like to send a gift card to each of my recommenders. Since they live far away and I can't buy them dinner, I'd like to send them a gift card that they can use to take their respective spouses out for dinner, on me.

I looked at both the Visa and Mastercard gift cards, but they want $6 for "processing" then they have "maintenance fees" after a certain period of time. I think the Visa cards even charge $5 just to find out what you balance is!!

I found a WaMu MC gift card that charges $6, but they'll mail the card for you. The maintenance fees don't kick in until a year has passed.

Before I go with the WaMU card, does anyone else have any good ideas?

Thanks!

RF
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 02 Jan 2009, 22:08
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Why don't you give them some restaurant giftcard?
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 02 Jan 2009, 22:12
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What about amazon?
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 02 Jan 2009, 22:14
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fall09
Why don't you give them some restaurant giftcard?
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I don't know what they like and I'm pretty far away from where they live! So I can't really go and buy it in person.

RF
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 02 Jan 2009, 22:16
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k88
What about amazon?
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I didn't know Amazon had gift cards! That might be an option.

The reason I like the Visa/MC gift cards is because they can spend it on whatever they want. It's the next best thing to cash.

I'm thinking I might have to suck it up and go with the WaMu gift card!

RF
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 05:34
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What about AMEX gift cards/checks? We use them at work for attaboy bonuses, not sure what fees are involved if you buy them directly.
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 09:00
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I gave my recommender Best Buy gift card
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 09:58
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fall09
Why don't you give them some restaurant giftcard?

I don't know what they like and I'm pretty far away from where they live! So I can't really go and buy it in person.

RF
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I live far away from mine but gave them gift cards to nice steakhouses in their areas (i.e. Ruth Chris, Mortons, etc.). They have more than just steak so most people should be able to find something they like there.
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 10:24
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Some ideas:
1) Gift card directly from the restaurant - a lot of them will let you buy them online.
2) Mall gift card? Some of the swankier malls have better restaurants inside. Take a look at the malls near them - maybe they have nice places?
3) Amex gift cards - I think they only charge like $4 for delivery? I've given those before and the recipients haven't had any issues..

If you want to go the non-gift card route, you could look into Harry and David gift towers, swanky wine, etc...
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 10:37
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Thanks cpgmba and ac!

Those are some good ideas!

RF
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 10:48
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My American Express card account online has a link to a "fee-free American Express Gift Cards for friends & family" deal right now. See if yours does too?
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 11:22
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solaris1
My American Express card account online has a link to a "fee-free American Express Gift Cards for friends & family" deal right now. See if yours does too?
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Hmmm... mine does not.

$3.95 fee per card!

RF
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 12:21
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I gave 2 gift cards to my recommender -
1) Barnes & Nobles - I knew he likes to read so chose this. Purchased this card from B & N official website. There was less than $1 processing fee and they mailed it for free
2) JCPenny - I ordered this from Rewards program of my Visa credit card. There was absolutely no processing fee
I put these two cards in a Thank You card and handed it to him personally. He was very happy.
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 13:10
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What is the value of the gift cards that you guys are giving your recommenders? 20$? 50$?
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 13:29
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foodstamp
What is the value of the gift cards that you guys are giving your recommenders? 20$? 50$?
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I gave mine $50 gift card from Best Buy.
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 13:57
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foodstamp
What is the value of the gift cards that you guys are giving your recommenders? 20$? 50$?
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My JCPenny Card = $50
Barnes & Nobles = $25.
And I gave both
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 16:32
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eileen1017
I gave my recommender Best Buy gift card
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Is there a fee for these? I'm gona get $100 for each of my recommenders, who wrote 5 recs each...$20 per rec isn't bad IMO.
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 17:28
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foodstamp
What is the value of the gift cards that you guys are giving your recommenders? 20$? 50$?
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I did $100 as each did 3 recs. It was well worth it. :)
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 17:35
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foodstamp
What is the value of the gift cards that you guys are giving your recommenders? 20$? 50$?

I did $100 as each did 3 recs. It was well worth it. :)
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Same here. I had 2 recommenders do four recs each. They got them finished well before the deadline and obviously did a good enough job to get me an accept at Duke.

$100 each seems like a steal to me!

RF
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Gift Card for Recommenders? 03 Jan 2009, 19:21
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foodstamp
What is the value of the gift cards that you guys are giving your recommenders? 20$? 50$?

I did $100 as each did 3 recs. It was well worth it. :)

Same here. I had 2 recommenders do four recs each. They got them finished well before the deadline and obviously did a good enough job to get me an accept at Duke.

$100 each seems like a steal to me!

RF
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100$ a steal?! Man, we are in a recession!

I think I am going to send 50$ gift cards to my recommenders.
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